Water-Based Paints Hold Color Well

Question: We’re planning to paint our kitchen cabinets, and we’re trying to determine what kind of paint to get. I’ve always heard that an oil-based enamel is best for a surface that’s going to get a lot of use, but my neighbors say that the modern latex enamels are just as good. Any suggestions?

W.E.

La Palma

Answer: “Because of air quality regulations, paint manufacturers have had to alter their oil-base products sold in California. And what used to be called an oil-based paint is an alkyd-based paint,” says Andy Carter of Sinclair Paint in Costa Mesa.

“The alkyd paints do produce a very hard finish when they dry. However, they have a tendency to yellow over time, which is a problem if you’re planning to paint your cabinets white. A water-based enamel dries more quickly and holds its color well but doesn’t leave as tough a finish.”

Q: In getting my house ready for winter, I was checking the insulation in my attic and had an idea: What would happen if I stapled batt insulation on the underside of the roof between the studs? Would I get any extra insulation value from this?

T.Y.

Anaheim

A: “Virtually anytime you’re adding to your insulation, you’re getting a benefit,” says Pete Gorman of Rancho Lumber in Westminster.

“If you are going to put insulation on the underside of the roof, you might want to get the kind with the foil on one side. This has a reflective quality that will increase your ‘R’ rating. Before doing this, you may want to have someone check out the condition of your shingles, since leaks would be hidden by the insulation on the other side, and the water can cause dry rot.

“There’s also a new blanket-type insulation that’s made in long strips that can be laid out across your existing insulation. It’s made of foil about 1/4-inch thick with a plastic, ‘bubble’-type material in between, and it’s rolled out over an attic space and is a good addition to your weatherproofing.”

Q: We’ve bought a home with an old, wood parquet tile floor that we’d like to remove. I’d like to get these tiles out without damaging the wood subfloor below. How do I do that?

G.H.

Mission Viejo

A: “You might try using a super bar, which is a 12- to 14- inch crow-bar with a two-inch blade that you can use to pry under the tiles,” says Mark Chamberlain of Chamberlain Floors in Fountain Valley. “You just have to go one at a time and take it easy, then use patching compound to patch any holes you create. You may be able to keep from having to do the job by installing your new floor on top of the existing one.

“If you’re planning on putting down a vinyl floor, you may be able to lay out a 1/4-inch plywood over the parquet and put the vinyl over the plywood. If this fails, and the job is too hard to do, you might be able to find a contractor or company who will pull the tile up for you.”

Q: How do I check to see if an electrical receptacle is correctly grounded?

E.A.

Tustin

A: “With a voltage tester, stick one end in the hot or smaller end of the receptacle, while sticking the other in the ground slot,” says electrician Dave Borschach of Santa Ana. “The light should come on. If not, turn off the power to that circuit, pull out the receptacle and see if the ground connection is loose or off.”

Q: We’re going to be painting our bedroom ourselves, and the 15-foot-high vaulted ceilings scare us. Can we paint these adequately with an extension rod attached to a roller, or do we need to rent tall ladders?

R.R.

Fullerton

A: “You can do a good job with rollers and extensions; however, you’ll need to get up there on a ladder to cut the paint in at the corners,” says Joe Ragsdale of Color Center in La Mirada. “If you don’t want to do that, you can get a device that fits on the extension that will hold a brush to allow to reach where the roller can’t.”